Stabilized floating structure

ABSTRACT

A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation including a floating body at least partially immersed in a fluid, means mounted in the body at selected loci for varying the buoyant forces acting on the selected loci, means responsive to displacements of the floating body relative to the predetermined orientation for actuating the means for varying the buoyant forces whereby the buoyant forces are varied at selected loci to produce counteracting forces tending to return the floating body to the predetermined orientation and the actuating means including means for sensing displacements of the floating body relative to the predetermined orientation.

United States Patent Markakis Sept. 12, 1972 [54] STABILIZED FLOATINGSTRUCTURE [72] Inventor: Costas E. Markakis, 12 Aravantinou St., Athens,Greece 22 Filed: Mareh19,1971 21 Appl.No.: 126,287

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 751,463, Aug,9,

1968, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl ..l4/27, 114/125 [51] Int. Cl. ..E0ld 15/08 [58] Field ofSearch .;l 14/121, 122, 125; 14/27 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 399,693 3/1889 Poore ..114/l6.3 1,382,073 6/1921 Fort ..114/16.31,700,406 1/1929 Hammond ..114/125 1,888,667 11/1932 Hort ..114/125 Hort..1 14/125 Parks ..1 14/125 X Field ..114/122 Primary Examiner-Jacob L.Nackenoff Att0meyMason, Fenwick & Lawrence [57] ABSTRACT A floatingstructure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation including afloating body at least partially immersed in a fluid, means mounted inthe body at selected loci for varying the buoyant forces acting on theselected loci, means responsive to displacements of the floating bodyrelative to the predetermined orientation for actuating the means forvarying the buoyant forces whereby the buoyant forces are varied atselected loci to produce counteracting forces tending to return thefloating body to the predetermined orientation and the actuating meansincluding means for sensing displacements of the floating body relativeto the predetermined orientation.

28 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 12 1972 SHEEI 1 BF 9 INVENTORATTORNEYS Cos-ms E.MAR\ AK\5 YnaaailiiMamw PATENTEDSEP 12 m2 SHEET 3 BF9 z l/V vs/vrae PATENTED 3.689853 SHEET 7 OF 9 QOSTASEMARKAIQS m o mnmATTORNEYS FATENTEDSEPIZIWZ 3.689853 SHEET 8 [IF 9 FONTQOL 7 INVENTORCOSTASEMARKA k. s

ATTORNEYS STABILIZED FLOATING STRUCTURE This application is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 751,463 filed Aug. 9, i968 and nowabandoned.

This invention relates to an improved floating structure and moreparticularly to a novel floating structure which is adapted to bestabilized under adverse environmental conditions. The invention furthercontemplates novel floating bridges, vessels and aviation landin g deckshaving stabilized characteristics.

In the use of conventional floating structures such as floating bridgesand marine vessels, it has been found that the stability of suchstructures is affected considerably by the effects of environmentalconditions. The stability of conventional floating bridges commonly isaffected by the effects of traffic loads, tides and the upsetting forcesof winds, waves and seismic disturbances. Similarly, the stability ofconventional marine vessels commonly is affected by the effects ofupsetting forces of winds and waves.

The instability of conventional floating structures has had the effectof retarding the development of various types of structures such asfloating bridges and aviation landing decks. The few existinginstallations of floating bridges have been limited to geographicregions where the environmental conditions tending to produce upsettingor disturbing forces are minimal. It thus has been found to'be desirableto provide a floating structure which is stable under any adverseenvironmental conditions.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to providean improved floating structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stabilizedfloating structure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel floatingstructure which may be stabilized under adverse environmentalconditions.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide animproved floating structure which will be stabilized when subjected tothe upsetting or disturbing forces of winds and waves.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel floatingstructure which will remain stabilized when subjected to the upsettingor disturbing effects of variable traffic loads, tides and seismicphenomena.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel,stabilized floating bridge.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel,stabilized floating vessel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel,stabilized floating aviation landing deck.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel,stabilized floating structure which is comparatively simple inconstruction, relatively easy to construct and install and inexpensiveto maintain.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent to those persons skilled in the art to which the presentinvention pertains, from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1, having a portion thereof broken away to expose the interiorconstruction thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of an actuating unitutilized in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagrammatic view of the control system and theactuating units utilized in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1through 3;

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG.7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG.7;

FIGS. 10 and 10a are schematic diagrammatic views of the control systemsand actuating units employed in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7through 9;

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagrammatic view of the control system andactuating units of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to the view shown in FIG. 13, illustrating theembodiment subject to upsetting forces;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagrammatic view of the control system andactuating units for the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14;

FIG. 16 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a further embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.16;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged crosssectional view taken along line 1818 in FIG.17;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 19-19 inFIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a modification ofthe embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 16 through 19;

FIG. 21 is another partial, vertical cross-sectional view of themodification illustrated in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a front elevational view of still another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG22, having a portion thereof broken away; and

- FIG. 24 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 24-24 inFIG. 23.

Briefly described, the present invention relates to a floating structureadapted to maintain a predetermined orientation generally comprising afloating body at least partially immersed in a fluid, means mounted inthe body at selected loci for varying the buoyant forces acting on theselected loci, means responsive to displacements of the floating bodyrelative to the predetermined orientation for actuating the means forvarying the buoyant forces whereby the buoyant forces are varied atselected loci to produce counteracting forces tending to return thefloating body to the predetermined orientation and the actuating meansincluding means for sensing displacements of the floating body relativeto the predetermined orientation. More specifically, the means mountedat selected loci for varying the buoyant forces acting on the floatingbody comprise immersed variable volume chambers communicating with thefluid in which the body is immersed, and the sensing means includesmeans for detecting external forces applied to the floating body tendingto disturb the predetermined orientation of the body.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings, there is illustrated afirst embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 specifically illustrates apair of land bodies and 11, a body of water 12 between the land bodies,a pair of aligned pier structures 13 and 14 connected to the land bodiesand a floating bridge structure 15 interconnecting the two pierstructure. The bridge structure 15 consists of a plurality of alignedfloating bridge spans 16 which are secured together in end to endrelation and which also are anchored by a plurality of transverselyextending lines 17 moored to the bottom of the body of water, as shownat 18. The lines 17 function to prevent transverse movements of thebridge structure when lateral forces are applied, and permit verticalmovement of the spans while limiting their upper displacement.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3, each component span consists of an upperplatform section 19 whose position or orientation is sought to bestabilized when subjected to external disturbing forces, and a lowerstabilizing section 20 which is at least partly immersed in the body ofwater 12. The sections 19 and 20 are movable relative to each other andare interconnected by a plurality of transversely and longitudinallyspaced actuating units 21. The upper platform section 19 includes aframe structure 22 seated on the upper ends of the actuating units 21, apair of roadways 23 and 24 disposed on the frame structure 22 andseparated by a divider wall 25, a pair of pedestrian walkways 26 and 27extending longitudinally along the outer sides of the roadways 23 and24, and a pair of guard rails 28 and 29 extending along the outer sidesof the walkways 26 and 27.

The lower immersed section 20 includes a bottom wall 30 on which theactuating units 21 are mounted, a pair of side walls 31 and 32 and apair of end walls (not shown), defining a partially immersible, floatingsection having an open upper end. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, thelower immersed section 20 is provided with a plurality of transverselyextending partition walls 33 forming transversely disposed compartments34 in which the actuating units 21 are mounted. The lower section 20further is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending,transversely spaced walls 35 interconnecting spaced transverse walls 33,defining a plurality of compartments 36. The plurality of longitudinaland transverse partition walls 33 and 35 define a compartmental immersedsection 20 which affords structural water tight integrity to each bridgespan.

in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, it is intended tomaintain the upper platform section 22 in a predetermined orientation,i.e., in a horizontal position at a predetermined level when the bridgestructure and its component spans are subjected to exterior forces suchas traffic load, and the effects of tides, waves and winds applied atvarious points. This is accomplished by sensing the disturbing forcesand adjusting the buoyant forces acting on the partially immersed lowersection 20 of each span 16. Vertical loads resulting from traffictraversing the bridge structure tending to cause the upper platformsection 22 to lower, are sensed and counteracted by a plurality ofcontrol systems 37 as illustrated in FIG. 5, which includes theactuating units 21. External forces such as those caused by winds andwaves, tending to cause upsetting moments, are sensed and counteractedby a plurality of compensating units 38.

Each control system 37 includes a sensing unit 39 and a pneumatic system40 connected to a plurality of actuating units 21. As best illustratedin FIG. 4, each actuating unit 21 consists of a base plate member 41bolted to the bottom wall 30 of a partially immersed lower section 20,an upstanding piston member 42 rigidly mounted at its lower end on thebase plate member 41, a compression spring 43 mounted around the pistonmember 42 and seated on the base plate member 41, and a fluid housing 44which is adapted to receive the upper end of the piston member 42 insliding relation therewith, and be seated on the upper end of thecompression spring 43.

The housing member 44 includes a cylindrical section 45 having the upperend closed with a wall 46 and the lower end open for receiving the upperend of the piston member 42. The lower end of the cylindrical section 45is provided with an annular flange 47 which is seated on the upper endof the compression spring 43 to support the entire housing member 44.The upper end of the cylindrical housing section 45 provides a fluidchamber 48 which is sealed from the exterior of the unit by means of apair of seals 49 and 50 disposed between the piston member 42 and thelower end of the cylindrical housing section 45. It will be appreciatedthat the cylindrical housing section 45 will slide vertically relativeto the piston member 42, depending upon the fluid pressure in thechamber 48, typical of conventional hydraulic cylinder assemblies.

The housing member 44 further includes an upper rectangular shapedhousing section 51 which is rigidly mounted on the upper end of thecylindrical housing section 45. The housing section 51 includes an upperwall member 52 on which there is provided a mounting plate 53 forseating the frame structure 22 of the upper platform section 19, sidewalls 54 and a bottom wall 55 defining a fluid chamber 56 disposed aboutthe upper end of the cylindrical housing section 45. lntercommunicatingthe fluid chambers 48 and 56 are conduits 5 7.

The pneumatic system 40 comprises a compressed air system which isadapted to supply air under pressure to'the fluid chambers 56 of theactuating units 21. The system includes a compressor 58, a compressedair supply line 59 having a cut-off valve 60, a compressed air tank 61,an air supply line 62 having a two-way valve 63 and connecting to branchlines 64 and 65, and a manifold line 66 having outlets communicatingwith the upper portions of the fluid chambers 56 in the actuating units21. It will be appreciated that when the two-way valve 63 is in theposition of as illustrated in FIG. 5, and the compressor 58 isoperating, air under pressure will be supplied to the fluid chambers 56of the actuating units 21, forcing the liquid in such chambers throughthe conduits 57 into the fluid chambers 48, thus displacing the housingmembers 44 and, correspondingly, the upper platform section 22 of thecomponent span, relative to the piston members 42 and, correspondingly,the partially immersed lower secoperated by a computer device 68. Theselector valve 63 also is operated by the computer device responsive toinput signals from the sensing units 39.

Each sensing unit 39 includes an electrical input circuit 69 connectedto the computer 68 which is provided with a variable rheostat-70. Therheostat 70 has a movable contact 71 actuated by a link 72 rigidlysecured to a weighing platform 73. As best illustrated in FIG. 1, aplurality of weighing platforms 73 are employed on the roadways 74 and75 on the pier structures 13 and 14. A pair of weighing platforms 73 ismounted on each pier structure adjacent the floating bridge structure,one in each lane of the roadway. Computer device 68 is adapted toreceive signals from input circuits 69, 69b and 69c of sensing units 39including the weighing platforms 73, compute corrective signal outputsand transmit corrective signals to one or more motors 67 and selectorvalves 63 to operate the fluid systems controlling the actuator units inthe component spans.

The unit 38, adapted to sense exterior disturbing forces of wind andwaves, includes detecting vanes 76 and 77 disposed on opposite sides ofthe component span and pivotally connected to the lower ends of the sidewalls 31 and 32 of the lower section as at 78 and 79. The vanes 76 and77 have large plane surface areas extending above and below the waterline which are adapted to be engaged by winds and waves normallyapplying upsetting forces to the component'span. The vanes are adaptedto pivot in a vertical plane and are interconnected by a rigid linkingmember 80 which is pivotally and slidably connected at its outer ends tothe vanes as at 81 and 82. The interconnecting member 80 extends throughsuitable openings 83 and 84 in side walls 31 and 32 in the lower section20, which are disposed above the water line. The upper ends of the vanesare connected to the upper ends of side walls 31 and 32 by cables 85 and86 which are operatively connected to take-up reels 87 and 88.

Mounted within the lower section 20 on the side walls 31 and 32substantially below the water line, are aligned cylinders 89 and 90which communicate with the body of water. Disposed in the cylinders 89and 90 are piston members 91 and 92 which are provided with rodspivotally and slidably connected at their outer ends to the vanes 76 and77 as at 93 and 94. It will be noted that whenever a lateral force isapplied to the component span, such force will be detected by a vane 76or 77 and will cause the vane to move toward the component span andsimultaneously to cause the other vane to move away from the componentspan. As the vanes pivot in such manner, the pistons 91 and 92 also willmove, thus varying the displaced volumes of water on opposite sides ofthe component span. The variations in the displaced volumes of waterwill vary the buoyant forces acting on opposite sides of the componentspan, thus producing counteracting forces tending to oppose theupsetting moment caused by the later forces applied to the span.

In the operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, forstabilizing the position of the upper platform section 19 horizontallyand at a predetermined level, the buoyant forces acting on the lowersection 20 are varied selectively to counteract the disturbing effectscaused by the varying vertical load placed on the upper platform section19 by the vehicles traversing the bridge structure, and the lateralloads applied to the component spans by waves and wind. It will beappreciated that the upper movement of the platform section 19 islimited by the anchor lines 17 which are secured at their upper ends tothe platform section. Vertical loads tending to alter the verticalposition of the upper platform section 19 are counteracted by the systemillustrated in FIG. 5. Asymmetrical loads applied to the component spanare counteracted by the system 38 including the sensing vanes 76 and 77.

It will be appreciated that as vehicles enter upon and are removed fromthe floating bridge structure, the vertical loads applied to thecomponent spans of the bridge will vary. These variations are sensed bythe weighing platforms 73 located on the roadways on the pier structures13 and 14 as the vehicles enter and exit the bridge structure. Aspreviously mentioned, the vertical movements of the weighing platforms73 are sensed by electrical sensing units 39 which transmit signals tocomputer 68. The computer is adapted to compute a correction for thedisplacement caused by the vertical load and transmit signals to motors67 and valves 63 of the component spans to vary the supply of air to theactuating units 21. The variations of air supplied to the actuatingunitswill vary the displacement between the upper platform section 19and the lower section 20 of each component span. The variation in thedisplaced volume of water by the lower section 20 of each component spanwill alter the buoyant forces acting on the lower sections 20 of thecomponent spans, thus counteracting the variations in vertical loadapplied to the bridge structure by traversing vehicles.

The detecting vanes 76 and 77 normally are in the positions illustratedby the phantom lines illustrated in FIG. 3. Assuming the component spanillustrated in FIG. 3 is subjected to winds or waves from the port side,such forces would tend to cause the span to list to starboard. Tocounteract this lateral force applied to the span, the lateral componentof force is detected by the vane 76 which is caused to pivot about itspivotal connection with the lower section 20 to the position as shown bysolid lines in FIG. 3. Upon such pivotal movement, the vane 77 is causedto move from its position shown in phantom lines to the position shownin solid lines in FIG. 3. Simultaneous with the pivotal movements of thevanes 76 and 77, the pistons 91 and 92 will be caused to move tostarboard to decrease the volume of displaced water in the cylindricalchamber 89 and correspondingly increase the volume of displaced water inthe cylindrical chamber 90. This action will have the effect ofdecreasing the buoyant force acting on the port side of the span andincreasing the buoyant forces acting on the starboard side of the span.The cumulative effect of the decrease and increase of the buoyant forcesacting on opposite sides of the span, will be to create a righting forceopposing the lateral forces of the wind or waves applied to the span,tending to return the span to its predetermined level orientation.

FIG. 6 illustrates a vertical cross-sectional view of a component span100 comprising a second embodiment of the invention. The component span100 is similar to the span described in connection with the firstembodiment. The span 100 differs from the span 16 of the firstembodiment, in that it comprises an integral structure and utilizesalternate means for counteracting the variations in vertical loadapplied to the span. As illustrated in FIG.'6, the span 100 is adaptedto be partially immersed in a body of water and is anchored by means ofsuitable anchor lines 101 and 102. The span consists of a bottom wall103, a pair of side walls 104 and 105, end walls (not shown), aplurality of transversely disposed partition walls 106, and a pluralityof longitudinally disposed partition walls 107, providing a plurality ofwater tight compartments 108. Rigidly supported on the upper ends ofthe'partition walls and'the side walls 104 and 105 is a frame structure109 supporting a pair of roadways 110 and 111 separated by a divider112, and a pair of walkways 113 and 114 provided with guard rails l and1 16.

Variations in vertically applied loads are counteracted by a system 117,while component lateral nicate with the body of water and are providedwith pistons 121 and 122 which are movable within the chambers 1 19 and120 to vary the displaced volumes of water in the chambers and,correspondingly, the buoyant forces acting on the span at the locationsof the chambers.

The piston members 121 and 122 are actuated by hydraulic cylinderassemblies 123 and 124 which are connected to a distributor valve 125 byfluid supply lines 126 through 129. The valve 125 is supplied with aworking fluid under pressure by means of a pump 130 and a fluid supplyline 131. It will be appreciated that the valve 125 will distributefluid under pressure to the hydraulic cylinder assemblies 123 and 125 tomove the pistons 121 and 122 in the chambers 119 and 120 to vary thedisplaced volume of water in the chambers. The valve 125 is operated bya computer (not shown) which is adapted to receive signals from avertical load detecting device such as described in connection with thefirst embodiment, compute counteracting forces sufficient to alter thebuoyant forces acting on the span, thus varying the verticaldisplacement of the span, and transmit a signal to the control means forthe valve 125 to supply predetermined amounts of working fluid underpressure to the hydraulic cylinders I23 and 124. It will be seen thatwhenever a vertical load is applied to the bridge structure, causing thespans to displace downwardly, the control system will operate the valve125 to supply fluid under pressure through supply lines 126 and 128,moving the pistons 119 and 120 outwardly. The increase in the displacedvolume of water in the chambers 119 and will increase the buoyant forcesacting at such points, thus causing the entire span to move upwardly toits predetermined position.

Similar to the system described in connection with the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the system 118 includes a pair ofdetecting vanes 131 and 132 mounted on opposite sides of the span. Thevanes are pivotally connected to the lower ends of the side walls 104and 105 as at 133 and 134, and are disposed both below and above thewater line so as to enable them to detect lateral forces applied to thespan by waves or winds. The upper ends of the vanes are interconnectedby a rigid linking member 135 which extends through aligned openings inside walls 104 and 105 and is pivotally and slidably connected to thevanes as at 136 and 137. The upper ends of the vanes are urged intotheir normal positions by cable 138 and 139 which are operativelyconnected to take-up reels 140 and 141.

The component span 101 also is provided with a pair of variable volumechambers 143 and 144 which communicate with the body of water below thewater level and adjacent the vanes 131 and 132. Slidably mounted in thechambers 133 and 134 are piston members 145 and 146 having connectingrods pivotally and slidably connected to the adjacent vanes as at 147and 148. It will be seen that as the vanes 131 and 132 pivot about theirpivot points 133 and 134 the pistons 145 and 146 will movecorrespondingly to vary the displaced volume of water in the immersedchambers 143 and 144.

In the operation of the system 118 to counteract the effects of wind orwaves tending to disturb the stability of the component span, wheneverthe vane 131 is subjected to a lateral force of winds or waves, it willpivot to starboard, causing the vane 132 to pivot in the same direction.The movement of the vanes will cause pistons 145 and 146 to move tostarboard, thus decreasing the displaced volume of water in chamber 143and, correspondingly, increasing the displaced volume ofwater in chamber144. Such variations in displaced volumes will have the effect ofdecreasing the buoyant force acting on the port side of the span andincreasing the buoyant force acting on the starboard side of the span.The combination of the increased and decreased buoyant forces acting onopposite sides of the span will have the effect of providing a rightingforce counteracting the lateral force of winds or waves applied to thespan, thus tending to maintain or return the span to its predeterminedlevel position. It will be appreciated that the systems 117 and 118 areadapted to operate simultaneously to maintain the component span in astabilized condition.

A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 through10. Specifically referring to FIG. 7, there is illustrated a horizontalcross-sectional view of a component span 200 of a floating bridgestructure similar to the bridge structure shown in FIG. 1. The componentspan 200 consists of a floating body anchored to the bottom of a body ofwater by means of anchor lines 201 and 202, and includes a bottom wall203, side walls 204 and 205, and end walls 206 and 207. The interior ofthe span is provided with a plurality of longitudinally disposedpartition walls 208 and a plurality of transversely disposed partitionwalls 209 defining a plurality of watertight compartments 210.

Rigidly mounted on the side and partition walls is a frame structure 211which supports a pair of roadways 212,212 separated by a divider 213.Also mounted on the frame structure along the outer sides of theroadways are pedestrian walkways214 and 215 provided with guide rails216 and 217.

As best illustrated in FIG. 7, the span is provided with two systems 218and 219 which are adapted to maintain the component span stabilized in apredetermined orientation under the influence of loads applied to thecomponent span by traffic traversing the span and external forces suchas winds and waves also tending to disturb the stability of the span.The system 218 is adapted to counteract vertical displacements of thecomponent span caused 'by vehicles traversing the span and includes aplurality of pairs of variable volume chambers 220 and 221 disposed onopposite sides of the span, below the water line and communicating withthe body of water. The variable volume chambers 220 and 221 are providedwith sliding pistons 222 and 223 which are actuated by a pair ofhydraulic cylinders 224 and 225. As best illustrated in FIG. 10, therear ends of the cylinders 224 and- 225 are interconnected with a fluidline 226, which communicates with a fluid supply line 227, and the frontends of the cylinders are interconnected with a fluid line 228 whichcommunicates with a fluid supply line 229. Fluid under pressure foractuating the hydraulic cylinders 224 and 225 is provided by a pump 230.The pump is operated by a motor 231 and supplies fluid under pressure tofluid supply lines 227 and 229 through a distribution valve 232. Theoperations of the motor 231 and the distribution valve 232 arecontrolled by a computer 233 which computes output signals for the motorvalve as a result of input signals provided by the weighing platforms234 located on the roadways of the piers adjacent the opposite ends ofthe floating bridge structure.

The system 219 includes a plurality of pairs of variable volume chambers235 and 236 disposed on opposite sides of the span below the water linewhich communicate with the body of water. The chambers 235 and 236 areprovided with pistons 237 and 238 which are actuated by hydrauliccylinders 239 and 240. As best illustrated in FIG. 10a, a fluid line 241interconnects the front end of hydraulic cylinder 239 and the rear endof hydraulic cylinder 240, and ,commu nicates with a fluid supply line242 connected to a distributor valve 243. Similarly, a fluid line 244interconnects the rear end of hydraulic cylinders 239 and the front endof hydraulic cylinder 240, and communicates with a fluid supply line 245which also is connected to the distributor valve 243. Fluid underpressure is supplied to the fluid supply lines 242 and 245 through thedistributor valve 243 by means of a pump 246 which is driven by a motor247. The operations of the motor 247 and the distributor valve 243 arecontrolled by output signals from a computer 248. The computer isadapted to receive input signals from a gyroscopic device 249 sensing avariation of position due to the effects of winds or waves, and transmitcommand signals to the distributor valve 243 and the drive motor 247.

In the operation of the system 219 illustrated in FIG. 10a, whenever thecomponent span 200 is subjected to the forces of wind or waves from theport side, the span will tend to list to starboard, causing the portside to rise unless restrained by the anchor line 201. Such variation inposition will be sensed by the gyroscopic device 249 which will transmita signal to the computer 248. Upon receipt of the input signal from thegyroscopic device, the computer 248 will compute the appropriatecorrection and will energize the motor 247 and set the distributor valvein the proper position. Under such circumstances, fluid under pressurewill flow through supply line 242 and fluid line 241 to the front end ofhydraulic cylinder 239 and the rear end of hydraulic cylinder 240 tocause the pistons to move to starboard. The movement of the pistons tostarboard will have the effect of decreasing the displaced volume ofwater in variable chamber 235 and increasing the displaced volume ofwater in variable chamber 236 and, correspondingly, decreasing thebuoyant force acting on the span at the point of the chamber 235 andincreasing the buoyant force acting on the span at the point of thechamber 236. This alteration of the buoyant forces acting on the span atopposite sides thereof will have the effect of producing a counteractingrighting force opposing the forces of the winds or waves applied to theport side of the span.

It is to be noted that the systems 218 and 219 function concurrently tocounteract the disturbing effects of vertical loads applied to the spanby traversing vehicles and the lateral loads applied to the span bywinds or waves. It further will be seen that the effects of tides whichmay vertically displace the span may be sensed by any suitable sensingdevice which would transmit a signal to the computer 233 which in turnwill transmit a command signal to the distributor valve 232 to alter thebuoyant forces acting on the span, thus counteracting the effects oftides tending to vertically displace the span.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12.In this embodiment, pneumatic means are provided for altering thebuoyant forces acting on a span 300 at selected points to counteract theeffects of vertical loads, tides, winds and waves acting on the span andtending to upset it. The component span 300 consists of a frameworkincluding an upper wall 301 on which there is provided a roadway 302 andpedestrian walkways 303 and 304, a pair of side walls 305 and 306 and apair of end walls (not shown). The span further is provided with aplurality of longitudinal partition walls 307 and transverse partitionwalls 308. The inboard walls are provided with bottom walls 309providing a plurality of closed chambers 310 and a plurality of chambers311 communicating with the body of water. The outboard sections of thetransverse walls 308 are provided with bottom walls 312 providing closedchambers 313 and outboard chambers 314 and 315 which communicate attheir lower ends with the body of water.

The upper and lateral movement of the component span 300 is limited bymeans of a pair of anchor lines 316 and 317 anchored to the bottom ofthe body of water as at 318 and 319. The component span also is providedwith a pair of upwardly and outwardly projecting vanes 320 and 321 whichare utilized to detect forces of wind and waves applied to the spantending to upset it from its normal position.

Generally, the span illustrated in FIG. 11 is stabilized by varying theamount of air under pressure supplied to the variable volume chambers311, 314 and 315 to counteract the effects of vertical displacement ofthe span due to vehicle loads applied to the bridge, and tides. It willbe appreciated that by supplying or exhausting air under pressure to thevariable volume chambers the displaced volume of water and,correspondingly, the buoyant forces acting on the span, can be varied tocounteract vertical loads applied to the span. Similarly, lateral forcescaused by winds or waves tending to cause the span to list, can beoffset by selectively supplying air under pressure and exhausting thevariable volume chambers 314 and 315.

FIG. 12 illustrates a controlsystem 322 for supplying and exhausting airfrom the variable volume chambers 311, 314 and 315 to counteract forcesapplied to the span 300 and-thus stabilize the span. The system includesa sensing device 323 which detects variations of orientation of the spanand transmits a signal to a computer 324. The computer operates a motor325 which drives a compressor 326. The compressor is connected to acompressed air tank 327 by means of a fluidline 328 including a reliefvalve 329.

Compressed air is supplied to the outboard chamber 314 by means .of afluid supply line 330 and branch lines 331. The supply line 330 isprovided with a valve 332 and the branch lines 331 are provided withtwoway valves 333 which are operated by the computer 324. The two-wayvalves 333 are adapted to be operated to either supply air underpressure to the chamber 314 or to exhaust air in the chamber throughexhaust lines 334.

Air under pressure similarly is supplied to outboard chamber 315 bymeans of a fluid supply line 335 and branch lines 336. The supply line335 is provided with a valve 337 and the branch lines 336 are providedwith two-way valves 338 which are operated by the computer 324. Thetwo-way valves 338 are operable either to provide air under pressure tothe outboard chamber 315, or to exhaust air therefrom through exhaustlines 339.

To provide air under pressure to. all of the variable volume chambersincluding the outboard chambers 314 and 315 and the inboard'chambers311, there is provided a fluid supply line 340, a manifold 341 andbranch lines 342 which communicates with the inboard chambers 31], afluid line 343 which communicates with the outboard chamber 314 and afluid line 344 which communicates with the. outboard chamber 315. Thefluid supply line 340 is provided with a valve 345, the branch lines 342are provided with two-way valves 346, the branch line 343 is providedwith a two-way valve 347, and the branch line 344 is provided with atwo-way valve 348, all of which are operated by the computer 324. Itwill be noted that the two-way valves 346, 347 and 348 are provided withexhaust lines 349, 350 and 351, respectively, so that air may besupplied to or exhausted from the chambers 311,314 and 315.

In the operation of the system 322, whenever the component span 300 isdisplaced vertically as a result of any loading on the bridge or theeffect of tides, the sensing device 323 detects the displacement andtransmits a signal to the computer 324. The computer 324 continuouslycomputes the corrective action for counteracting the displacement andtransmits a command signal to the valves 345, 346, 347 and 348, eitherto supply air under pressure or to exhaust-the chambers,

thus varying the volume of displaced water in the chambers and,correspondingly, varying the buoyant forces acting on the componentspan. The variation in the buoyant forces acting on the span willoperate either to maintain or return the span to its predeterminedlevel.

Whenever lateral forces caused by winds or waves are applied to the portside of the span, causing the span to list to starboard, the sensingdevice 323 detects the listing condition and transmits a signal to thecom puter 324. The computer computes the corrective action and actuatesa plurality of valves to vary the buoyant forces to provide a rightingforce, tending to return the span to its predetermined levelorientation. In doing so, valves 332 and 345 are closed and valve 337 isopened. Simultaneously, valves'338 are operated to supply air underpressure to the outboard chamber 315 and the valves 333 are operated tovent the outboard chamber 314 to the atmosphere. This action will havethe effect of increasing the displaced volume of water in outboardchamber 315, thereby increasing the buoyant force applied to thestarboard side of the span, and decreasing the displaced volume of waterin outboard chamber 314, thereby decreasing the buoyant force applied tothe port side of the span, providing a righting moment, tending tomaintain or return the span to its predetermined level position.

It will be appreciated that lateral forces applied to the starboard sidetending to cause the span to list to port, can be counteracted in asimilar manner by increasing the displaced volume of water in chamber314 and decreasing the displaced volume of water in chamber 315.

FIGS. 13 through 15 illustrate a modification of the embodiment shown inFIG. 11. The modification consists of a component span 400 including abottom wall 401, side walls 402 and 403 and endwalls (not shown). Theinterior of the span is provided with a plurality of longitudinalpartition walls 404 and transverse partition walls 405, defining aplurality of watertight compartments 406. Supported on the partitionwalls 404 and 405 is a frame structure 407 on which there is mounted aroadway 408 and walkways 409 and 410.

Mounted on the outboard sides of side walls 402 and 403 are variablevolume chambers .411 and 412 which communicate at their lower ends withthe body of water. The displaced volume of water in the variable volumechambers 411 and 412 can be varied to correspondingly vary the buoyantforces acting at different points on the span to provide correctiveforces tending to counteract the effects of vertical and lateral loadsapplied to the span.

FIG. 15 illustrates a control system 413 utilized in the modificationillustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. The system includes a motor 414 whichdrives a compressor 415 to pressurize an air tank 416. Air underpressure is supplied through a line 417 including a relief valve 418 tofluid supply line 419 and 420. Pairs of branch lines 421 and 422provided with valves 423 and 424 interconnect supply line 419 with thestarboard chambers 412. Similarly, pairs of branch lines 425 and 426provided with valves 426a and 427 interconnect the supply line 420 withport chamber 411. In addition, there are provided equalizing lines 428and 429, provided with valves 430, 431, 432 and 433 whichintercommunicate port and starboard chambers 411 and 412. The portchambers 411 are provided with vents 435 and 436, having valves 437 and438. Similarly, the starboard chambers 412 are provided with vents 439and 440 having valves 441 and 442.

Each of the valves in the fluid supply lines and the vent lines areelectrically operated. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the valves 430v and433 are connected to an electrical supply circuit 443, valves 423 and424 are connected to supply circuit 446 and valves 440 and 441 areconnected to supply circuit 447, which are selectively energized eitherby a control computer 444 or a gyroscopic device 445. Similarly, valves431 and 432 are connected to an electrical supply circuit 443a, valves426a and 427 are connected to a supply circuit 446a and valves 437 and438 are connected to supply circuit 447a, which are selectivelyenergized by the control computer 444 and the gyroscopic device 445.

In the operation of the modification illustrated in FIGS. 13 through 15,whenever the span 400 is displaced vertically from its predeterminedlevel, a sensing device of the type as previously described with respectto the aforementioned embodiments, will transmit a signal to the controlcomputer 444, indicating the nature and degree of displacement. Thecontrol computer will compute the appropriate correction and selectivelyenergize supply circuits 446 and 446a or 447 and 4470, and circuits 443and 443a to supply or exhaust air from the variable volume chambers 41 1and 412. It will be appreciated that by either increasing or decreasingthe displaced volume of water in the chambers 411 and 412 symmetrically,the buoyant forces acting on the span will correspondingly be varied toprovide a counteracting force, tending to return the span to thepredetermined position. It further will be seen that the valves 430,431, 432 and 433 will be open during correction for verticaldisplacement to intercommunicate the port and starboard chambers,thereby preventing the formation of asymmetrical forces tending to causethe span to list either to port or starboard.

When the span is subjected to lateral forces of winds or waves asillustrated in FIG. 14, this condition is sensed by the gyroscopicdevice which operates to energize the starboard supply circuit 446,causing valves 423 and 424 to open, and air under pressure to besupplied to the starboard chambers 412 and, simultaneously, to energizesupply circuit 447a, causing valves 437 and 438 to open, therebyexhausting air from the port chambers 411. The effect of such actionwill be to increase the displaced volume of water in the starboardchambers 412 and decrease the displaced volume of water in the portchambers 411. This, correspondingly, will increase the buoyant forceacting on the starboard side of the span and decrease the buoyant forceacting on the port side of the span, thereby developing a righting forcetending to return the span to its predetermined level position. It willbe seen that when the span is subjected to lateral forces applied to thestarboard side that a similar remedial action occurs to provide arighting force to return the span to its predetermined level position.It further will be appreciated that correction for vertical displacementand list can occur simultaneously to counteract a multitude of randomforces applied to the span, tending to disturb its stability.

FIGS. 16 through 19 illustrate an embodiment of the invention as appliedto a vessel for stabilizing the vessel by eliminating or decreasing theeffects of roll and pitch. Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, there isillustrated a vessel 500, having a hull 501 including a bow section 502,a stern section 503 and an amidship section 504. As best seen in FIG.16, there is provided a roll control system 505 located amidship, andpitch control systems 506 and 507 located in the bow and stem sections.The pitch control systems 506 and 507 are similar in construction andoperation, although they are operated to produce opposite effects toeliminate pitching of the vessel. I

Referring to FIG. 18, there is illustrated the pitch control system 507.This system includes a variable volume chamber 508 disposed on thestarboard side below the waterline and communicating with the water, anda variable volume chamber 509 mounted on the port side below thewaterline and communicating with the water. The ends of the variablevolume chambers 508 and 509 opened to the sea, are provided with spaceplate members 510 and 511 which readily permit flow of water into andout of the chambers, yet prevent entry of any foreign undesirable matterwhich might cause damage to the interior of the chambers. The starboardchamber 508 is provided with a piston member 512, which is actuated by ahydraulic cylinder 513. Similarly, the port chamber 509 is provided witha piston member 514 which is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder 515. Thefront and rear ends of the hydraulic cylinder 513 are connected by fluidsupply lines 516 and 517 to a distributor valve 518. Similarly, fluidsupply lines 519 and 520 interconnect the front and rear ends of thehydraulic cylinder 515 with the distributor valve 518. Fluid underpressure is supplied to the distributor valve 518 through a fluidcircuit 521 provided with a pump 522 driven by a motor 523. Thedistributor valve 518 and the motor 523 are operated by a gyroscopicdevice 524.

In the operation of the control system 507, whenever a verticaldisplacement of the stern section of the hull is sensed by thegyroscopic device 524, command signals are transmitted to the motor 523and the distributor valve 518 to supply fluid under pressure either tothe front or rear ends of the hydraulic cylinders 513 and 515 to movethe piston members 512 and 514 either outwardly or inwardly to vary thevolume of displaced water in the port and starboard chambers 508 and509. The variation in the displaced volume of water in the chambers 508and 509 will vary the buoyant forces acting on the stern section of thehull, thus tending to return the hull section to a predetermined levelposition. As previously mentioned, the control system. 506 functionssimilarly to the control section 507 producing a complementary actiontending to maintain the hull of the vessel on even keel.

The roll control system 505 illustrated in FIG. 19 includes a pair ofvariable volume chambers 525 and 526 mounted on the starboard and portsides of the hull below the waterline and communicating with the opensea. The open ends of the chambers 525 and 526 are provided with spacedplate members 527 and 5 28 which similarly to the plate members 510 and511 permit flow of water into and out of the chambers 525 and 526, yetprevent the entry of foreign objects tending to cause damage to theinterior of the chambers. The

chambers 525 and 526 are provided with piston members 529 and 530 whichare actuated by hydraulic cylinders 531 and 532. The front and rear endsof the hydraulic cylinder 531 are connected to a distributor valve 533by means of fluid lines 534 and 535. Similarly, the front and rear endsof hydraulic cylinder 532 are connected to the distributor valve 533 bymeans of fluid lines 536 and 537. Fluid under pressure is supplied tothe-distributor valve 533 by means of a fluid circuit 538 which includesa pump 539 driven by a motor 540. The operation of the distributor valve533 and the motor 540 is controlled by a gyroscopic device 541 which isadapted to sense rolling conditions, compute corrective measures andtransmit command signals to the distributor valve and motor. It will beappreciated that a single gyroscopic device can be employed to senseboth roll and pitch conditionsand control the distributor valves andmotors for each of the control systems 505, 506 and 507.

In the operation of the control system 505, when the vessel tends toroll to starboard, the gyroscopic device 541 senses the condition andtransmits a signal to the motor 540 and the distributor valve 533 tosupply fluid under pressure to the rear end of hydraulic cylinder 531and the front end of hydraulic cylinder 532 to extend the piston member529 and retract the piston member 530. The result of such piston actionwill be to increase the displaced volume of water in chamber 525 anddecrease the displaced volume of water in the chamber 526, asillustrated in FIG. 19, to increase the buoyant forces acting on thestarboard side of the vessel and decrease the buoyant forces acting onthe port side of the vessel. Such variation in the buoyant forces willproduce a righting moment tending to counteract the roll of the vesselto starboard. It will be appreciated that the control system 505operates in a similar manner to counteract the vessel rolling to port.In addition, it will be seen that the pitch control systems 506 and 507will operate in a complementary manner simultaneously with the operationof the roll control system 505 to maintain the vessel in a stabilizedposition. In operating the control systems 506 and 507 to stabilize thevessel, the control system 506 controls the buoyant forces acting on thebow section 502 of the vessel while the control system 507 controls thebuoyant forces acting on the stern section 503 of the vessel. The inletsof the variable volume chambers of the pitch control system 506 areshielded by spaced plate members 542 and 543 as best illustrated in FIG.16.

FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrate a modification of the embodiment illustratedin FIGS. 16 through 19. More specifically, FIG. 20 illustrates a rollcontrol system adapted to be positioned amidship in a vessel, and FIG.21 illustrates a pitch control system adapted to be positioned in thebow and stern sections of a vessel.

The roll control system 600 is mounted in the amidship section 601 of avessel and includes a starboard chamber 602 mounted in the hull of thevessel below the waterline and communicating at the lower end thereofwith the open sea, and a port chamber 603 which also is positioned belowthe waterline and communicates at its lower end with the open sea. Thelower openings in the chambers 602 and 603 are provided with spacedshield plates 604 and 605 to readily permit the flow of water into andout of the chambers 602 and 603, yet prevent the entry of any foreignobjects which would tend to cause damage to the interior of thechambers. The system 600 also includes a compressor 606 which provides areservoir of compressed air in a tank 607 for the entire system. Thetank 607 is connected to the variable volume chambers 602 and 603 by'means of an air supply line 608 having a valve 609 and an air line 610having valves 611 and 612 for controlling the air supplied to thechambers 602 and 603. Also interconnecting the chambers 602 and 603 is afluid supply line 613 having valves 614 and 615 adjacent the chambers602 and 603. The variable volume chambers also are adapted to be ventedto the atmosphere through vent conduits 616 and 617 provided with valves618 and 619, respectively.

The various control valves for supplying and exhausting air underpressure in the variable volume chambers 602 and 603 are electricallyactuated by a gyroscopic device 620 and a control unit 621.

The roll control system 600 is operative when the vessel rolls tostarboard, as illustrated in fig. 20, to vent the air in the portchamber 602 and supply air under pressure to the starboard chamber 603.This will have the effect of decreasing the displaced volume of water inthe port chamber 602 and increasing the displaced volume of water in thestarboard chamber 603 to correspondingly decrease the buoyant forcesacting on the port side of the vessel and increase the buoyant forcesacting on the starboard side of the vessel. The variation of buoyantforces on the starboard and port sides of the vessel will develop arighting force, tending to counteract the roll of the vessel tostarboard.

The roll conditions of the vessel are detected by the gyroscopic device620 which energizes the appropriate electrical circuits to open andclose the appropriate valves to either supply or exhaust air underpressure in the variable volume chambers 602 and 603.

The pitch control system 622, as illustrated in FIG. 21 is intended tobe positioned in the bow and stem sections of the vessel, so that a pairof systems operates in a complementary manner to counteract the effectsof the pitching motion of the vessel. The system 622 includes a portchamber 623 positioned below the waterline and communicating at itslower end with the open sea, and a starboard chamber 624 also positionedbelow the waterline and having a lower opening communicating with theopen sea. The openings in the chambers 623 and 624 are provided withshield plates 625 and 626 which readily permit the flow of water intoand out of the chambers, yet prevent foreign objects from entering thechambers. The chambers 623 and 624 are supplied with air under pressurefrom a compressed air tank 627 through a fluid supply line 628 having avalve 629 and an air line 630 having two-way valves 631 and 632 disposedadjacent the chambers 623 and 624. The chambers also may be vented tothe atmosphere through two-way valves 631 and 632 and vent conduits 633and 634. The compressor 635 and two-way valves 631 and 632 are operatedby a gyroscopic device 636 and a control unit 637, either to supply airunder pressure to the chambers 623 and 624, or to exhaust air therefromthrough vent conduits 633 and 634.

In the operation of the pitch control system 622, whenever a pitchingcondition is detected by a gyroscopic device 636, the two-way valves 623and 632 are operated either to supply or exhaust air in the chambers 633and 624, thereby varying the displaced volume of water in the chambers.The variation of the displaced volume of water'in the chambers 623 and624 will have the effect of varying the buoyant forces acting on the bowand stern sections of the vessel. Such variations in buoyant forces areutilized to counteract the pitching motion of the vessel, therebystabilizing the vessel. It will be noted that the roll control system600 and the pitch control systems 622 are operated simultaneously tocounteract the roll-and pitch motions of the vessel, thereby stabilizingthe orientation of the vessel.

FIGS. 22 through 24 illustrate the application of the invention instabilizing a floating section 700 of an aircraft take-off and landingdeck. As illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 23, the floating section 700includes a plurality of component spans 701, each of which are anchoredto the bottom of a body of water 702 by means of anchor cables 703. Eachspan 701 includes a plurality of stabilizing systems 704 which areoperative to prevent the span from listing either to starboard or portas a result of lateral forces applied to the span by winds or waves. Thesystem 704 consists of a chamber 705 disposed below the waterline of thebody of water and communicating with the open sea. Mounted in thechamber 705 is a piston member 706 having a pair of piston rods 707 and708, guided in bearing members 709 and 710 and interconnected at theirrearward ends by a member 711. The piston member 706 is normally biasedoutwardly by a pair of springs 712 and 713 and is adapted to be movedinwardly by a hydraulic cylinder 714 operatively connected to the crosspiece member 711.

Pivotally mounted on the lower submerged side of the span 701 is adetecting vane 715 which extends above the waterline. The vane 715 has aplane surface which is engaged by wind and waves, so that it may detectthe degree of such forces applied to the side of the span. The vane 715is provided with an actuating rod 716 slidably connected at one end tothe vane as at 717 and rigidly connected to a piston member 718 at theopposite end thereof, slidably mounted in a cylinder 719 in the side ofthe span 701. The closed end of the cylinder 719 is provided with aworking fluid and communicates with the front end of the hydrauliccylinder 714 through a closed fluid line 720.

It thus will be seen that when the lateral forces of winds or waves areapplied to the detecting vane 715, tiwill be caused to pivot towards thespan 701, moving the piston member 718 inwardly to force working fluidfrom the chamber 719 to the hydraulic cylinder 714. The admission ofworking fluid into the cylinder 714 will cause the piston rods 707 and708 and the piston member 706 to move inwardly, thereby decreasing thedisplaced volume of water in chamber 705. The decrease in the displacedvolume of water in chamber 705, will have the effect of decreasing thebuoyant force acting on the span at the point of the chamber 705, thuscounteracting the lateral force applied to the span, tending to lift thespan upwardly. The cooperation of the various systems 704 located on thestarboard and port sides of each span 701 will have the effect ofstabilizing the landing deck 700.

lclaim:

1. A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientationcomprising a body only partially immersed in a fluid, said body having aplurality of constantly totally immersed, vertically disposed chamberscommunicating at the lower ends thereof with said fluid, means forsupplying air under pressure to and venting said chambers, means forcontrolling the supply of air under pressure to and the venting of saidchambers, means for sensing variations of said floating structurerelative to said predetermined orientation, and said control means beingoperable responsive to said sensing means to selectively supply airunder pressure to and vent said chambers to provide variable pressuresin said chambers to vary the volumes of displaced fluid in said chambersand correspondingly vary the buoyant forces acting on said floatingstructure, while maintaining constant the resultant buoyant forceapplied to said floating structure, acting through the center of gravitythereof, to return said structure to said predetermined orientation.

2. A floating structure according to claim 1 wherein said sensing meansincludes means for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.

3. A floating structure according to claim 2 wherein said means forsensing vertical loads applied to said floating body comprises weighingmeans.

4. A floating structure according to claim 1 wherein said sensing meansincludes means for sensing lateral loads applied to said floating body.

5. A floating structure according to claim 2 including a secondplurality of constantly totally immersed, vertically disposed chambers,disposed on opposite sides of said body, having the lower ends thereofcommunicating with said fluid, means for supplying air under pres sureto and venting said chambers second means for sensing variations of saidbody relative to said predetermined orientation to lateral forcesapplied to said body, and said control means being operable responsiveto said second sensing means to selectively supply air under pressure toand vent said second plurality of chambers to provide variable pressuresin said chambers and thereby vary the volumes of displaced fluid thereinand correspondingly vary the buoyant forces acting on said body tocounteract the upsetting effects of said lateral forces, and return saidbody to said predetermined orientation.

6. A floating structure according to claim 1 wherein said sensing meansincludes means for sensing both vertical and lateral loads applied tosaid floating body.

7. A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientationcomprising a floating body only partially immersed in a body of water,having longitudinal and transverse center lines and a plurality ofvertically disposed chambers communicating at the lower ends thereofwith said body of water, disposed on each side of at least one of saidcenter lines, said chambers being disposed constantly below the waterline, means for supplying air under pressure to and venting saidchambers, means for sensing variations of said floating body relative tosaid predetermined orientation, and control means responsive to saidsensing means for selectively supplying air under pressure to means forlimiting the upper displacement of said first body section, a secondbody section supporting said first body section said first body sectionbeing displaceable relative to said second body section, said secondbody section having a portion thereof partly immersible in a fluid toproduce a buoyant force acting on said structure, means for varying thedisplacement between said body sections, means responsive to variationsof said first body section relative to said predetermined orientationfor actuating said means for varying the displacement between saidbodies thereby varying the immersed volume of said second body sectionwhereby the buoyant forces acting on said structure are varied toproduce counteracting forces tending to return said first body sectionto said predetermined orientation and said actuating means includingmeans for sensing variations of said first body section relative to saidpredetermined orientation. 7

9.'A floating structure according to claim 8, wherein said means forvarying the displacement between said bodies comprises at least onevariable volume chamber disposed between said body sections and saidactuating means comprises a system of fluid under pressure connected tosaid chamber for varying the volume thereof whereby a variation ofvolume of said chamber will cause displacement between said bodysections thus producing corresponding variations in the buoyant forcesacting on said structure.

10. A floating structure according to claim 8, wherein said sensingmeans includes a weighing means for sensing vertical loads applied tosaid first body section.

11. A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientationcomprising a floating body at least partially immersed in a fluid, meansmounted in said body at selected loci varying the buoyant forces actingon said selected loci, means responsive to variations of said floatingbody relative to said predetermined orientation for actuating said meansfor varying said buoyant forces whereby said buoyant forces are variedat selected loci to produce counteracting forces tending to return saidfloating body to said predetermined orientation and said actuating meansincluding means for sensing variations of said floating body relative tosaid predetermined orientation, said sensing means including a weighingmeans for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.

12. A floating structure according to claim 11 wherein said meansmounted at selected loci for varying the buoyant forces acting on saidfloating body comprise a plurality of immersed chambers communicatingwith said fluid, each of said chambers having a piston for varying thedisplaced volume of fluid therein, said piston being operativelyconnected to said actuating means, and wherein said actuating meanscomprises a fluid system including a source of fluid under pressure,fluid operated actuators for extending and retracting said pistons tovary the displaced volume of said fluid selectively, and control meansresponsive to said sensing means for selectively supplying fluid underpressure to said fluid operated actuators.

13. A floating structure according to claim 11 wherein said meansmounted at selected loci for varying the buoyant forces acting on saidfloating body comprise a plurality of immersed chambers communicatingwith said fluid, each of said chambers having a piston for varying thedisplaced volume of fluid therein, said piston being operativelyconnected to said actuating means, and wherein said sensing meanscomprises a weighing ,means for sensing vertical loads applied to saidfloating body.

14. A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientationcomprising a floating body at least partially immersed in a fluid, meansmounted in said body at selected loci for varying the buoyant forcesacting on said selected loci, means responsive to variations of saidfloating body relative to said predetermined orientation for actuatingsaid means for varying said buoyant forces whereby said buoyant forcesare varied at selected loci to produce counteracting forces tending toreturn said floating body to said predetermined orientation and saidactuating means including means for sensing variations of said floatingbody relative to said predetermined orientation, said means mounted atselected loci for varying the buoyant forces acting on said floatingbody comprising a plurality of immersed chambers communicating at thelower ends thereof with said fluid, said actuating means comprising apneumatic system including a source of gas under pressure, circuit meansinterconnecting said source of gas under pressure with said chambers,means for venting said chambers and control means responsive-to saidsensing means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure to andventing said chambers, and said sensing means comprising a weighingmeans for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.

15. A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientationcomprising a floating body having longitudinal and transverse centerlines, said floating body being at least partially immersed in a fluid,at least one means for varying the buoyant forces acting on saidfloating body mounted in said floating body on each side of at least oneof said center lines, means responsive to variations of said floatingbody relative to said predetermined orientation for actuating said meansfor varying the buoyant forces whereby said buoyant forces are varied toproduce counteracting forces tending to return said floating body tosaid predetermined orientation and said actuating means including meansfor sensing variations of said floating body relative to saidpredetermined orientation, said sensing means including a weighing meansfor sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.

16. A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientationcomprising a floating body having longitudinal and transverse centerlines, said floating body being at least partially immersed in a fluid,at least one means for varying the buoyant forces acting on saidfloating body mounted in said floating

1. A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientationcomprising a body only partially immersed in a fluid, said body having aplurality of constantly totally immersed, vertically disposed chamberscommunicating at the lower ends thereof with said fluid, means forsupplying air under pressure to and venting said chambers, means forcontrolling the supply of air under pressure to and the venting of saidchambers, means for sensing variations of said floating structurerelative to said predetermined orientation, and said control means beingoperable responsive to said sensing means to selectively supply airunder pressure to and vent said chambers to provide variable pressuresin said chambers to vary the volumes of displaced fluid in said chambersand correspondingly vary the buoyant forces acting on said floatingstructure, while maintaining constant the resultant buoyant forceapplied to said floating structure, acting through the center of gravitythereof, to return said structure to said predetermined orientation. 2.A floating structure according to claim 1 wherein said sensing meansincludes means for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.3. A floating structure according to claim 2 wherein said means forsensing vertical loads applied to said floating body comprises weighingmeans.
 4. A floating structure according to claim 1 wherein said sensingmeans includes means for sensing lateral loads applied to said floatingbody.
 5. A floating structure according to claim 2 including a secondplurality of constantly totally immersed, vertically disposed chambers,disposed on opposite sides of said body, having the lower ends thereofcommunicating with said fluid, means for supplying air under pressure toand venting said chambers second means for sensing variations of saidbody relative to said predetermined orientation to lateral forcesapplied to said body, and said control means being operable responsiveto said second sensing means to selectively supply air under pressure toand vent said second plurality of chambers to provide variable pressuresin said chambers and thereby vary the volumes of displaced fluid thereinand correspondingly vary the buoyant forces acting on said body tocounteract the upsetting effects of said lateral forces, and return saidbody to said predetermined orientation.
 6. A floating structureaccording to claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes means forsensing both vertical and lateral loads applied to said floating body.7. A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientationcomprising a floating body only partially immersed in a body of water,having longitudinal and transverse center lines and a plurality ofvertically disposed chambers communicating at the lower ends thereofwith said body of water, disposed on each side of at least one of saidcenter lines, said chambers being disposed constantly below the waterline, means for supplying air under pressure to and venting saidchambers, means for sensing variations of said floating body relative tosaid predetermined orientation, and control means responsive to saidsensing means for selectively supplying air under pressure to andventing said chambers to provide variable pressures in said chambers,for varying the displaced volumes of water in said chambers andcorrespondingly varying the buoyant forces acting on said fluid body,while maintaining constant the resultant force applied to said floatingstructure, acting through the center of gravity thereof, to providecounteracting forces operable to return said floating body to saidpredetermined orientation.
 8. A floating structure comprising a firstbody section adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation, means forlimiting the upper displacement of said first body section, a secondbody section supporting said first body section said first body sectionbeing displaceable relative to said second body section, said secondbody section having a portion thereof partly immersible in a fluid toproduce a buoyant force acting on said structure, means for varying thedisplacement between said body sections, means responsive to variationsof said first body section relative to said predetermined orientationfor actuating said means for varying the displacement between saidbodies thereby varying the immersed volume of said second body sectionwhereby the buoyant forces acting on said structure are varied toproduce counteracting forces tending to return said first body sectionto said predetermined orientation and said actuating means includingmeans for sensing variations of said first body section relative to saidpredetermined orientation.
 9. A floating structure according to claim 8,wherein said means for varying the displacement between said bodiescomprises at least one variable volume chamber disposed between saidbody sections and said actuating means comprises a system of fluid underpressure connected to said chamber for varying the volume thereofwhereby a variation of volume of said chamber will cause displacementbetween said body sections thus producing corresPonding variations inthe buoyant forces acting on said structure.
 10. A floating structureaccording to claim 8, wherein said sensing means includes a weighingmeans for sensing vertical loads applied to said first body section. 11.A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientationcomprising a floating body at least partially immersed in a fluid, meansmounted in said body at selected loci varying the buoyant forces actingon said selected loci, means responsive to variations of said floatingbody relative to said predetermined orientation for actuating said meansfor varying said buoyant forces whereby said buoyant forces are variedat selected loci to produce counteracting forces tending to return saidfloating body to said predetermined orientation and said actuating meansincluding means for sensing variations of said floating body relative tosaid predetermined orientation, said sensing means including a weighingmeans for sensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.
 12. Afloating structure according to claim 11 wherein said means mounted atselected loci for varying the buoyant forces acting on said floatingbody comprise a plurality of immersed chambers communicating with saidfluid, each of said chambers having a piston for varying the displacedvolume of fluid therein, said piston being operatively connected to saidactuating means, and wherein said actuating means comprises a fluidsystem including a source of fluid under pressure, fluid operatedactuators for extending and retracting said pistons to vary thedisplaced volume of said fluid selectively, and control means responsiveto said sensing means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure tosaid fluid operated actuators.
 13. A floating structure according toclaim 11 wherein said means mounted at selected loci for varying thebuoyant forces acting on said floating body comprise a plurality ofimmersed chambers communicating with said fluid, each of said chambershaving a piston for varying the displaced volume of fluid therein, saidpiston being operatively connected to said actuating means, and whereinsaid sensing means comprises a weighing means for sensing vertical loadsapplied to said floating body.
 14. A floating structure adapted tomaintain a predetermined orientation comprising a floating body at leastpartially immersed in a fluid, means mounted in said body at selectedloci for varying the buoyant forces acting on said selected loci, meansresponsive to variations of said floating body relative to saidpredetermined orientation for actuating said means for varying saidbuoyant forces whereby said buoyant forces are varied at selected locito produce counteracting forces tending to return said floating body tosaid predetermined orientation and said actuating means including meansfor sensing variations of said floating body relative to saidpredetermined orientation, said means mounted at selected loci forvarying the buoyant forces acting on said floating body comprising aplurality of immersed chambers communicating at the lower ends thereofwith said fluid, said actuating means comprising a pneumatic systemincluding a source of gas under pressure, circuit means interconnectingsaid source of gas under pressure with said chambers, means for ventingsaid chambers and control means responsive to said sensing means forselectively supplying fluid under pressure to and venting said chambers,and said sensing means comprising a weighing means for sensing verticalloads applied to said floating body.
 15. A floating structure adapted tomaintain a predetermined orientation comprising a floating body havinglongitudinal and transverse center lines, said floating body being atleast partially immersed in a fluid, at least one means for varying thebuoyant forces acting on said floating body mounted in said floatingbody on each side of at least one of said center lines, means responsiveto variations of said floating body relative to said predeterminedorieNtation for actuating said means for varying the buoyant forceswhereby said buoyant forces are varied to produce counteracting forcestending to return said floating body to said predetermined orientationand said actuating means including means for sensing variations of saidfloating body relative to said predetermined orientation, said sensingmeans including a weighing means for sensing vertical loads applied tosaid floating body.
 16. A floating structure adapted to maintain apredetermined orientation comprising a floating body having longitudinaland transverse center lines, said floating body being at least partiallyimmersed in a fluid, at least one means for varying the buoyant forcesacting on said floating body mounted in said floating body on each sideof at least one of said center lines, means responsive to variations ofsaid floating body relative to said predetermined orientation foractuating said means for varying the buoyant forces whereby said buoyantforces are varied to produce counteracting forces tending to return saidfloating body to said predetermined orientation and said actuating meansincluding means for sensing variations of said floating body relative tosaid predetermined orientation, said actuating means being operableselectively to actuate both of said varying means simultaneously tocounteract any vertical displacement of said floating body thusreturning said floating body to said predetermined orientation, toactuate said varying means selectively to produce righting forces aboutsaid center line to counteract external forces applied to said floatingbody tending to produce upsetting moments about said center line thusreturning said floating body to said predetermined orientation, and toactuate said varying means to produce opposed forces acting verticallyand about said center line to counteract a combination of forces tendingto displace said floating body vertically and simultaneously producingan upsetting moment about said center line thus returning said floatingbody to said predetermined orientation, and said sensing means includinga weighing means for sensing vertical loads applied to said floatingbody.
 17. A floating structure adapted to maintain a predeterminedorientation comprising a floating body having longitudinal andtransverse center lines and at least a portion thereof immersed in afluid, at least one set of first reaction means mounted in said floatingbody, disposed symmetrically relative to at least one of said centerlines for varying the buoyant forces acting on said floating body, atleast one set of second reaction means mounted in said floating body,symmetrically relative to one of said center lines, for varying thebuoyant forces acting on said floating body, means responsive tovariations of said floating body relative to said predeterminedorientation for actuating said first and second reaction means forvarying the buoyant forces whereby said buoyant forces are varied toproduce reaction forces tending to return said floating body to saidpredetermined orientation and said actuating means including means forsensing variations of said floating body relative to said predeterminedorientation, and said sensing means including a weighing means forsensing vertical loads applied to said floating body.
 18. A floatingstructure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation comprising afloating body at least partially immersed in a body of fluid, a platformsupported on said floating body, said floating body having a firstplurality of spaced chambers, means for detecting loads applied to saidplatform, means for varying fluid in said first plurality of chambers inresponse to loading of said platform to vary the buoyant forces actingon said floating body in counteracting the effects of said loading andreturning said structure to said predetermined orientation, saidfloating body having a second plurality of spaced chambers communicatingwith said body of fluid, means for displacing fluid in said seCondplurality of chambers, and means responsive to exterior forces appliedto said structure tending to displace said structure from saidpredetermined orientation for actuating said displacing means to varythe buoyant forces produced by said second plurality of chambers tocounteract the upsetting effects of said exterior forces and returningsaid structure to said predetermined orientation.
 19. A floatingstructure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation according toclaim 18 wherein said detecting means comprises weighing means.
 20. Afloating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientationaccording to claim 18 wherein said displacing means comprise pistons.21. A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientationaccording to claim 18 wherein said actuating means comprise vanesoperatively connected to said displacing means.
 22. A floating structureadapted to maintain a predetermined orientation according to claim 18wherein said displacing means comprise pistons and said actuating meanscomprise vanes operatively connected to said pistons.
 23. A floatingstructure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientation according toclaim 22 wherein said vanes are pivotally connected to said floatingbody and are engageable by wind and waves acting on said structure. 24.A floating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientationaccording to claim 18 including means for limiting the upward movementof said floating body.
 25. A floating structure adapted to maintain apredetermined orientation according to claim 18 wherein said detectingmeans comprises weighing means, said displacing means comprise pistons,said actuating means comprise vanes pivotally to said floating body andoperatively connected to said pistons, and including means for limitingthe upward movements of said floating body.
 26. A floating structureadapted to maintain a predetermined orientation according to claim 18wherein said chambers operable to vary the buoyant forces acting on saidfloating body are disposed on opposite sides of at least one center lineof said floating body to produce selectively vertical and rightingforces counteracting upsetting forces applied to said structure.
 27. Afloating structure adapted to maintain a predetermined orientationaccording to claim 26 wherein said chambers are disposed equidistantlyrelative to said center line.
 28. A floating structure adapted tomaintain a predetermined orientation according to claim 26 wherein saidvanes are disposed on opposite sides of said floating structure and areoperatively interconnected to simultaneously actuate at least twodisplacing means producing cooperative righting forces.